Following on from our bird-life post here’s a selection of some of the everyday, local life on the Sangkar River we’ve photographed on recent trips along this spectacular, picturesque and unusual river in western Cambodia:
Fishing The lower stretch of the river, closer to the great Tonle Sap lake sees the largest fluctuation in water levels between rainy and dry season so that’s where we see the famous floating villages built entirely on bamboo rafts. Further up the river tall stilt houses make an appearance while the nomadic houseboat-living people are to be found predominantly in the Sangkar’s central section from where they’ll move up or down-stream depending upon water levels and seasonal fishing potential.
Washing the dishes
Mobile shopping Mobile grocery stores/cafes/noodle shops play the river in the larger floating villages such as Prek Toal or Bak Preah.
Bringing up the kids Note the traditional style pleated palm walls while the raft is constructed with large sections of buoyant bamboo.
Checking out the tourists Most of the remaining images appear to fall into the ‘small kids in charge of boats’ category which never ceases to amaze either our passengers or ourselves, even though we’ve seen it 100 times before!
A small kid in charge of a boat
Small kids in charge of a boat but still finding time to wave at the tourists
A small kid in charge of very makeshift ‘boat’!
If you’re born and brought up on a floating raft house, which many of the River’s villages consist of, then obviously kids need to learn to swim at the same time they learn to walk and need to be able to control a boat at the earliest age possible!
Local life on the Sangkar River is part 2 of our series with some images of the spectacular landscapes of Cambodia’s Sangkar River to follow.
For a list of All Points East tours featuring the incredible river journey please see the previous post or check our Cambodia tour page at this link.
Cheers!
